China and Japan have agreed to hold a bilateral security dialogue next year, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said during a statement in the Chinese capital Beijing, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
Minister Iwaya's statement was made after a working lunch with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Focus on Japanese seafood import ban
The key topic of discussion between the two foreign ministers was China's ban on Japanese seafood imports. The measure was introduced in August 2023, after Japan began releasing purified radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, Associated Press reports.
China is among the countries that reacted sharply to Japan's actions. The decision to release the water was motivated by the need to ensure the safety of the facility.
Plans to resume seafood trade
China announced in September 2023 that it planned to gradually resume imports of Japanese fish and seafood. However, negotiations on the topic are still at an early stage, and Beijing's position remains critical of Japan's policy towards Fukushima.